It was HH The President’s Cup day at Abu Dhabi on Sunday evening and, for the second year running, trainer Majed Al Jahouri saddled the winner of the 2200m Group 1 Purebred Arabian version, for Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Last year it was Naseem and Harry Bentley who landed the spoils but they could only manage seventh this time.

This year it was Rabbah De Carrere, under Royston Ffrench, who gained the day, denying stable companion Raaziq, the mount of Silvestre De Sousa. And it was De Sousa who won last week’s middle round of the Al Maktoum Challenge at Meydan, on Rabbah De Carrere.

A delighted Al Jahouri said: “We knew we had good chances in the race but it is never easy to know the best one. Rabbah De Carrere is clearly improving and to win two big Group 1 races in such a short time is a massive effort.

“We knew Raaziq was a big contender as well and they have both run big, big races. We had good chances, going into the race, with Naseem and Musharab as well, so it is just great to land the contest.”

The Thoroughbred equivalent, a Listed race over 1400m, was won by Nawwaar, who made virtually all under Paul Hanagan, riding for his main employer, HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Nawwaar is trained by Ali Rashid Al Raihe, winning the race for the third consecutive year. Nawwaar is also the third horse to win The National Day Cup and the President`s Cup in the same season.

“Nawwaar clearly loves it around here and that rode like a really strong race; the fast time advocates that," said Hanagan.

“He just loves bowling along in front, then quickens and runs all the way to the line. He is so genuine and these appear his optimum conditions.”

The opening race, a 1600m handicap, was a red letter result for trainer, Ernst Oertel who saddled the first three home, with RB Smokin Rich leading home stable companions, Calleteral and Sheikh Down.

It was a first Abu Dhabi winner for jockey Per-Anders Graberg who said: “He was quite impressive to be fair. I was told to hold him up and challenge late. That has worked perfectly.

“I was always going pretty well and the he quickened well. He is a young horse and hopefully will improve as that was only his third start.”

The trainer wasted no time in doubling up, with stable jockey, Tadhg O’Shea aboard Fatat Al Arab, the comfortable winner of the following Emirates Fillies’ Classic, also over 1600m. The UAE Champion Jockey settled his mount in mid division before taking her to the front early in the straight, after which they were never going to be caught.

O’Shea said: “The yard are in great form and this is a lovely filly who has never stopped improving. She shows very little at home but is a different prospect here on a racenight.”

The concluding 1600m maiden went to Sahm W’Rsan, trained by Bakhit Al Ketbi and ridden by Sam Hitchcott, while the preceding 1400m handicap was won by TM Ac-Dc, ridden by Thomas Brown for trainer, Omar Daraj Mohammed.